Raptors host potent Magic
Last Updated: Sunday, November 22, 2009 | 11:37 AM ET
By Chris Iorfida, CBC Sports
Toronto's Hedo Turkoglu had 19 points in his first meeting against his old club, the Orlando Magic. (Steve C. Wilson/Associated Press)The Toronto Raptors will go for their fourth consecutive home win on Sunday afternoon against the only team to defeat them at Air Canada Centre so far, the Orlando Magic (CBC, 12:30 p.m. ET).
The Raptors will face the challenge with a short bench. Swingman Antoine Wright and guard Marco Belinelli will each miss the game, according to Elliotte Friedman of CBC Sports. Both have been dealing with lower body injuries, although a flu bug is also confronting the team.
Toronto lost to Orlando three weeks ago on the same court, 125-116, but at least one of the leading Magic players on that day won't figure in the return engagement.
Jameer Nelson had 30 points, but is now on the sidelines with a knee injury. Guard J.J. Redick wielded the hot hand from beyond the 3-point line en route to 27 points, but the bench player has been nowhere near that level since and has seen limited minutes in recent games.
Orlando (10-4) is the hottest team in the East, winning four straight heading into the matinee by an average margin of 10 points.
Wins over lesser lights New Jersey and Charlotte were followed by victories over an improved Oklahoma City squad, and most impressively, a win Friday in Boston over the Celtics.
Former Raptor Vince Carter had arguably his best game of the season in the 83-78 win in Boston, scoring 26 points.
Centre Dwight Howard had just nine points, although he led all players with 15 rebounds. Howard will likely be champing at the bit to shoot more against Toronto, a team he's enjoyed much success against in the past.
The Magic's winning streak has coincided with the return of Rashard Lewis to the lineup after serving a 10-game suspension for elevated testosterone levels. Lewis enjoyed his second straight double-double on Friday, pouring in 16 points and adding 10 rebounds.
The Raptors inched closer to the .500 mark with a win over Miami on Friday, the first of a three-game homestand.
Toronto put up 43 points in the second quarter and then held off the Heat with a strong fourth quarter, during which Jarrett Jack scored 12 of his 17 points.
Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani shot a combined 19-for-28. Bosh had 29 points and 12 rebounds, with Bargnani contributing 24.
Hedo Turkoglu had 19 points, the same amount as when he faced Orlando, the team he played for the previous five seasons.
Bosh had a huge game in a losing cause to the Magic on Nov. 1, with 35 points and 16 assists.
Toronto finishes the homestand against Indiana on Tuesday, playing in Charlotte the following night.
